Machine for clearing railroad flangeways

ABSTRACT

A machine is provided for clearing a rail flangeway, of debris or ice, the machine comprising: a frame; mounting means for mounting the frame on a vehicle, the vehicle for moving the machine across the surface in a direction of travel generally parallel to the length of the flangeway; at least one rotating member mounted on the frame for rotation about an axis generally perpendicular to the direction of travel; drive means in communication with the rotating member to provide rotation; and at least one elongate clearing member mounted on the rotating member, the elongate clearing member being configured to fit inside the subsurface groove; such that, as the vehicle moves the machine across the surface, rotation of the rotating member causes the elongate clearing member to intermittently enter the flangeway to clear it of debris.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to machines for clearing railroad flangeways and similar grooves or channels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Railroad flangeways are the grooves in road surfaces at level crossings that accommodate the rails of the railroad tracks. Gravel, sand, mud, ice, and snow and other debris can accumulate in these flangeways. Industry specific research indicates that clogged flangeways are a contributing factor in train derailments, which occurrences, sometimes catastrophic, generate substantial safety and liability issues. The potential results of such occurrences include extensive property and environmental damage, and personal injury. Also, there are effects on vehicular traffic and railroad productivity, caused by time delays due to slower train speeds in order to minimize the risk of derailment.

Clearing this debris presents a challenge. Conventional machines for clearing ground surfaces are concerned with clearing generally smooth surfaces, such as roads, and generally leave surface grooves untouched and may actually add to the debris accumulation in them.

Current practice is to clean rail flangeways with labour-intensive, manual application of shovels, switch brooms, picks, bars, air compressors, or front-end loaders with crow's-foot attachments. During the winter months, heated pitch may be manually applied to railway crossings to melt the ice and snow prior to the manual removal of debris. These existing methods for clearing rail flangeways are labour-intensive and time-consuming, factors that generate undesirable consequences.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a cleaner for clearing debris from a flangeway accommodating a rail of a railroad track, the cleaner comprising:

a vehicle adapted to travel along the track;

a cleaning head comprising;

-   -   a housing;     -   a rotor mounted in the housing for rotation about a rotor axis         transverse to the flangeway;     -   at least one cleaning element projecting radially from the rotor     -   a rotor drive for rotating the rotor about the rotor axis; and

a carrier for mounting the cleaning head on the vehicle for supporting the cleaning head above the flangeway for movement along the flangeway as the vehicle travels along the track, such that, as the cleaning head moves along the flangeway and the rotor is rotated, each cleaning element sweeps repeatedly along the groove to clear debris therefrom.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention the cleaner has two cleaning heads for simultaneously cleaning two parallel flangeways of a track. Similarly, the carrier may provide for variations in the vertical positioning of the cleaning heads.

To prevent electrical shorting across the rails, the cleaning heads are preferably electrically isolated from the remainder of the cleaner.

The debris dislodged by the cleaning elements may be propelled by the cleaning elements into a receiver mounted on the cleaning head. The accumulation of debris may be assisted by configuring the housing as the shroud of a centrifugal blower, and mounting a set of impeller blades on the rotor for producing a rotary air flow discharging tangentially from the housing into the receiver along with the debris

The use of the present cleaner provides a mechanical, power operated clearing of debris from flangeways. This obviates labour intensive, manual processes and the use of chemicals or heated pitch to remove ice and snow.

A detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is given in the following. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not to be construed as limited to this embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a cleaner according to the present invention, unmounted and with one of the cleaner head shrouds omitted;

FIG. 2 is a view like FIG. 1 with the cleaner folded to a transport position;

FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-section of a flangeway;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the cleaner of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevation of the cleaner;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of one of the cleaning heads with the outer side panel omitted to show the internal component layout;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of a cleaning head rotor;

FIG. 8 is a view like FIG. 7 showing the cleaning elements mounted on the rotor;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of a cleaning element clamp; and

FIG. 10 is a partial cross section of a cleaning head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

Referring to the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated an exemplary embodiment of a flangeway clearing machine or cleaner 10. For purposes of illustration, a typical flangeway is illustrated in cross section in FIG. 3. As illustrated, the flangeway 2 is a groove in a road surface 4 to accommodate the flange 5 of a rail vehicle wheel 6 travelling along a running rail 8. In the illustration, the flangeway 2 is the space between the running rail 8 and a check, or guard, rail 9. Flangeways are located at railroad level crossings. Equivalent grooves are used on paved roads urban streets where street car tracks are installed.

Referring to the remaining drawings, an in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2, the cleaner 10 has a mounting frame 12 for mounting the cleaner on the trailing end of a railway vehicle (not illustrated). Mounted on the back of the frame 12 for pivotal movement about a lateral axis 14 is a subframe 16. This subframe carries two uprights 18 linked to the mounting frame by respective hydraulic cylinders 20.

A track frame 22 is mounted on the back of the subframe 16 for pivotal movement about a second lateral axis 24. The track frame is linked to the uprights of the subframe by respective hydraulic cylinders 26.

At its trailing end 28, the track frame has two laterally oriented sleeves 30 which support a box beam 32 for sliding movement transversely of the frame. The beam 32 carries a cleaner head 34 at each end. To adjust the lateral position of the heads, a hydraulic cylinder 36 is coupled between one of the sleeves 30 and the beam 32.

Each of the cleaning heads 34 has a housing or shroud 38 with an arcuate upper peripheral wall 40 and a truncated, open base 42. At the front of the shroud, immediately above the base, is a rectangular discharge 44. This opens into a duct 46 that discharges into a vented, box-like collector 50. The shrouds are mounted on respective ends of the beam 32. The inner panel of each shroud is fitted with hooded air inlets 52, on opposite sides of, and adjacent the beam 32. To support each cleaning head 34 on a rail, it is equipped with flanged wheels 54 and 56 at the front of the collector 50 and the back of the shroud respectively. Within the shroud is a rotor 58. This includes a shaft 60 extending laterally into the shroud from the adjacent end of the beam 32. The shaft is driven by a hydraulic motor 62 (illustrated schematically in FIG. 5) housed within the beam. The rotor per se includes a hub 64 mounted on the shaft and a set of impellers 66 radiating from the hub. The impellers act as centrifugal fan blades to create a flow of air through the shroud from the inlets 52 to the discharge 44. Cleaning elements 68 are mounted on each impeller and project radially outwardly from the impellers. FIG. 1 illustrates the currently preferred arrangement with two cleaning elements on each impeller. Each element is a short length of flexible, multi-strand twisted wire cable 70 with one end encased in a reinforced elastomeric tube 72. The cleaning elements are mounted in place by clamps 74, illustrated in detail in FIG. 9.

The rotor hub is electrically isolated from the remainder of the cleaner by insulating plates 76 and 78 and insulating sleeves 80 for the mounting bolts. This prevents electrical shorting from one rail to the other.

For use, the frame is unfolded from the transport position shown in FIG. 2 to the operating position of FIG. 1 by extending the cylinders 20 and 26 to place the cleaning heads on respective track rails. These cylinders control the vertical position of the cleaning heads with respect to the rails and the flangeways in which they are seated. Proper alignment of the support wheels 56 and 58 is ensured by adjusting the lateral position of the heads using cylinder 36.

As the cleaner is pulled along the track, the cleaning elements sweep along the flangeways and dislodge any debris therein. The debris is propelled forwardly by the cleaning elements and by the air flow produced by the rotating impellers. The combined effect discharges the debris tangentially from the discharge 44 into the vented collector for subsequent disposal.

While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been described in the foregoing, it is to be understood that other embodiments are possible within the scope of the invention and are intended to be included herein. It will be clear to any person skilled in the art that modifications of and adjustments to this invention, although not shown, are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention as demonstrated through the exemplary embodiment. Thus, for example it is to be understood that a machine with a single cleaner head will be useful in some applications and is intended to be included within the scope of this invention. The invention is applicable to all rail applications where flangeways are found. Additionally, while the present invention has been described in terms of its use in clearing railway flangeways, it is to be understood that the invention is applicable in other environments, and, in particular, has general application to the cleaning of grooves or slots, regardless of the location or end use of such grooves or slots. The invention is therefore to be considered limited solely by the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A method of clearing debris from a flangeway groove accommodating a running rail of a railroad track, the method comprising: providing a vehicle adapted to travel along the track; providing a cleaning head comprising a housing, a rotor rotatably mounted in the housing, and at least one cleaning element projecting radially from the rotor; rotating the rotor about a rotor axis oriented transversely to the flangeway; and supporting the cleaning head on the vehicle; above the flangeway for movement along the flangeway as the vehicle travels along the track, such that, as the cleaning head moves along the flangeway and the rotor is rotated, each cleaning element sweeps repeatedly along the flangeway groove to clear debris therefrom.
 2. A cleaner for clearing debris from a flangeway groove accommodating a running rail of a railroad track, the cleaner comprising: a vehicle adapted to travel along the track; a cleaning head comprising: a housing; a rotor mounted in the housing for rotation about a rotor axis transverse to the flangeway, the rotor comprising a hub and a plurality of impellers projecting radially from the hub; at least one cleaning element projecting radially from the rotor; a rotor drive for rotating the rotor about the rotor axis; and a carrier for mounting the cleaning head on the vehicle for supporting the cleaning head above the flangeway for movement along the flangeway as the vehicle travels along the track, such that, as the cleaning head moves along the flangeway and the rotor is rotated, each cleaning element sweeps repeatedly along the groove to clear debris therefrom.
 3. A cleaner according to claim 2 wherein the cleaning elements are mounted on respective ones of the impellers.
 4. A cleaner according to claim 3 comprising a plurality of cleaning elements mounted on each impeller.
 5. A cleaner according to claim 2 wherein said at least one cleaning element comprises a plurality of cleaning elements, all of the cleaning elements being arranged for alignment with the flangeway groove.
 6. A cleaner for clearing debris from a flangeway groove accommodating a running rail of a railroad track, the cleaner comprising: a vehicle adapted to travel along the track; a cleaning head comprising: a housing; a rotor mounted in the housing for rotation about a rotor axis transverse to the flangeway; at least one cleaning element projecting radially from the rotor; a rotor drive for rotating the rotor about the rotor axis; and a carrier for mounting the cleaning head on the vehicle for supporting the cleaning head above the flangeway for movement along the flangeway as the vehicle travels along the track, such that, as the cleaning head moves along the flangeway and the rotor is rotated, each cleaning element sweeps repeatedly along the groove to clear debris therefrom.
 7. A cleaner according to claim 6 wherein the rotor is housed within a shroud, the shroud being mounted on the frame.
 8. A cleaner according to claim 6 comprising two cleaning heads, spaced apart for cleaning respective ones of two spaced, parallel flangeways.
 9. A cleaner according to claim 6 further comprising a debris collector for receiving and collecting debris cleared from the flangeway.
 10. A cleaner according to claim 6 including a support for supporting the cleaning head on a rail extending along the flangeway.
 11. A cleaner according to claim 6 wherein the carrier comprises means for adjusting the vertical position of the cleaning head on the frame.
 12. A cleaner according to claim 11 wherein the carrier comprises means for adjusting the position of the cleaning head transversely of the flangeway.
 13. A cleaner according to claim 11 wherein the support comprises flanged wheels for engaging and following the rail.
 14. A cleaner according to claim 6 wherein each cleaning head comprises electrical insulation for electrically isolating the rotor.
 15. A cleaner according to claim 6 wherein the rotor comprises a hub and a plurality of impellers projecting radially from the hub.
 16. A cleaner according to claim 15 wherein the cleaning elements are mounted on respective ones of the impellers.
 17. A cleaner according to claim 16 comprising a plurality of cleaning elements mounted on each impeller.
 18. A cleaner according to claim 6 wherein each cleaning element comprises a twisted wire cable.
 19. A cleaner according to claim 18 wherein each cleaning element further comprises an elastomeric tube encasing one end of the cable.
 20. A cleaner according to claim 6 wherein said at least one cleaning element comprises a plurality of cleaning elements, all of the cleaning elements being arranged for alignment with the flangeway groove. 